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Thursday, November 12, 2009

Yesterday, I did a What Would You Do? post. Today, it’s a What Do You Think of This? post.

Richard Nash, founder of Cursor, chastises publishers in a Huffington Post article. First off, he’s not happy that Book Expo America, “the largest book convention in the US,” changed its days from Friday - Sunday to Tuesday - Thursday. What bothers him more than the day changes is that BEA cut the expected opening night party and, to make things worse, the show will not be open to the public, as is done in other book festivals and events. He feels it shows a lack of caring about the fans.

Books was once a business where publishers sold to booksellers, and booksellers sold to readers. So BEA was an event where publishers sold to booksellers. But with the chains not needing an event to meet everyone, since everyone beats a path to their door, and with the explosion in the number of books available means that publishers need to motivate readers to read their books, and not take for granted they'll walk into bookstores and buy, the event needs to be about exciting readers/customers, not hustling the retailers.

He doesn’t put the blame on the organizers of BEA, but on publishers:

By reducing their participation in BEA at the same time the media participation has increased by almost 50%, by refusing to open the Fair to the readers …, these CEOs have effectively thrown in the towel. They are managing the demise of the book business, pointing fingers at any generic social forces they can find, failing to see the one place the responsibility can be found, their own damn offices.

So, what do you think? Should BEA be open at least one day for book readers and fans to come in? Is Nash right when he says to publishers, “That pain in our foot? It's not outsiders stomping on it, it's us, shooting ourselves.”

Definitely should be open to readers and fans. Doing otherwise makes them seem aloof, isolating themselves from their market. The more exposure, the more people, the more buzz they can generate, the better.

I can see cost-cutting in choosing weekdays (airfares cheaper, no overtime at convention center) and ditching the big opening party to save $$. But I don't get making the BEA a trade show. Just don't see the return on that. Pretty much cutting off nose to spite...

I can't believe that the event is not going to be open to readers and fans. Without them - and the writers who produce product - there would be no publishing industry. When are the folks who make these disastrous decisions going to get that?

I agree with this fellow 100%. Not letting BEA be open to the public is weird, to say the least. It's almost like saying we don't need the consumers, which certainly is NOT the impression the publishing industry should give!

Angel Sometimes by Helen Ginger

Angel Sometimes

Helen Ginger

Helen is the author of five books: three non-fiction, a short story anthology and a contemporary fiction, Angel Sometimes. She maintains an informational and interactive blog for writers and a weekly e-newsletter that has been going out to subscribers around the globe for thirteen years. She is an owner-partner and Women’s Marketing Director for Legends In Our Own Minds®, which specializes in creative networking opportunities for companies and groups.